Back to EveryPatent.com
United States Patent |
6,009,602
|
Terada
|
January 4, 2000
|
Separable bottom end stop and a slider having a locking mechanism of a
slide fastener
Abstract
A bottom end stop and a slider with a locking mechanism of a slide fastener
chain which can be used for both the right side arrangement and the left
side arrangement are provided. The slider includes a leaf spring showing a
substantially U-shaped profile and having an end rigidly secured to a
front part of the slider body, and the other end having a locking pawl
arranged near the center thereof. The locking pawl resiliently projects
into a guide groove for the engaging member located in the slider body.
The bottom end stop includes an insert pin having a beveled escape area
produced by cutting an edge of an upper outer surface of the insert pin
facing the locking pawl, a groove formed on a surface facing a box pin of
a box so as to engage with a ridge portion of the box pin when the insert
pin is inserted into the box. The locking pawl is arranged between a top
surface of the box pin and a bottom surface of the abutting portion
provided at the top of the insert pin and the locking pawl is adapted to
slide on the escape area when the insert pin is inserted into the box at
the right side thereof. And when the insert pin is inserted into the box
at the left side thereof, the locking pawl does not relate to the
operation of the insert pin, thus the insert pin is inserted freely.
Inventors:
|
Terada; Yasuharu (Toyama-ken, JP)
|
Assignee:
|
YKK Corporation (Tokyo, JP)
|
Appl. No.:
|
212382 |
Filed:
|
December 16, 1998 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S. Class: |
24/433; 24/421; 24/424; 24/429 |
Intern'l Class: |
A44B 019/00 |
Field of Search: |
24/433,429,424,425,426,421,419
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
2300369 | Oct., 1942 | Kellum | 24/433.
|
2463937 | Mar., 1949 | Austin | 24/433.
|
2892231 | Jun., 1959 | Ulrich et al. | 24/433.
|
3320645 | May., 1967 | Burbank | 24/421.
|
4422220 | Dec., 1983 | Oda | 24/421.
|
5152036 | Oct., 1992 | Oda et al. | 24/424.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
0658650 | Oct., 1951 | GB | 24/433.
|
Primary Examiner: Sakran; Victor N.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hill & Simpson
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A separable bottom end stop and a slider having a locking mechanism of a
slide fastener, said slider comprising a slider body, a pull tab, and a
leaf spring
wherein said leaf spring shows a substantially U-shaped profile and has an
end rigidly secured to a front part of the slider body and the other end
having a locking pawl arranged near the center thereof, the locking pawl
being resiliently projecting into a guide groove and engageable with
engaging elements located in the slider body,
said bottom end stop comprising a box, a box pin fitted in said box and an
insert pin,
wherein said insert pin to be inserted into said box has an upper outer
surface facing the locking pawl, a side facing the box pin, and a beveled
escape area having a beveled edge between the upper outer surface and the
side of the insert pin facing the box pin so as to allow the locking pawl
to be retractably moved onto the insert pin.
2. A bottom end stop of a slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the
beveled escape area of the insert pin for escaping the locking pawl is
formed by cutting an edge of the insert pin from the distal end thereof to
a base of an abutting portion disposed at the top of the insert pin and
projecting outwardly.
3. A bottom end stop of a slide fastener according to claim 2, wherein said
box pin has a ridge portion projecting outwardly from a top portion
thereof and the abutting portion of the insert pin has a groove on an
outer lower surface thereof, said ridge portion and said groove being
adapted to abut and come into engagement with each other.
4. A bottom end stop of a slide fastener according to claim 2, wherein said
locking pawl is adapted to resiliently and retractably project into a
space between a top surface of the box pin and a bottom surface of the
abutting portion of the insert pin and operate for both the right side
arrangement and the left side arrangement.
5. A bottom end stop of a slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the
outer surface of the insert pin or the surface facing the box pin is
slightly bent and the escape area for the locking pawl is formed by
cutting an edge in the distal half thereof to produce a first beveled
surface area and cutting it in the other half thereof to produce a second
beveled surface area and a horizontal surface area.
6. A slider having a locking mechanism of a slide fastener according to
claim 1, wherein said leaf spring has a recessed portion arranged at an
upper end of the locking pawl projecting near the center of an extremity
thereof and adapted to accommodate the axis of the pull tab of the slider,
and the base portion of the other extremity of the leaf spring is secured
to a guide post of the slider body so as to make the leaf spring swingable
by the motion of the axis of the pull tab accommodated in the recessed
portion of the leaf spring.
7. A slider having a semi-automatic locking mechanism of a slide fastener
according to claim 6, wherein a U-shaped wall is arranged in front of the
guide post of the slider body to surround the front side of the guide
post, the upper end of the wall is projecting above the slider body, the
base portion of the leaf spring is provided with lateral notches to be
inserted into and securely held in engagement with a projecting portion
arranged on the front surface of the guide post, the locking pawl at the
front end of the leaf spring is inserted into and engaged with a pawl hole
cut through the slider body, the axis of the pull tab is put through the
recessed portion of the leaf spring and provided with a cam portion for
actuating the leaf spring, and the opposite ends of the axis are rotatably
held by the bearing portions of the slider body projecting upward from the
slider body so as to make the locking pawl of the leaf spring project and
retreat by the swinging motion of the pull tab.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a bottom end stop and a slider having a locking
mechanism of a slide fastener wherein the locking pawl of the slider is so
improved that the locking pawl does not provide any obstacle when an
insert pin is inserted into the box of the slide fastener.
2. Prior Art
In a conventional slide fastener chain having a bottom end stop adapted to
separate its lower end into two portions, the bottom end stop and a slider
having a locking mechanism is known, in which a locking pawl formed as
part of a leaf spring of the slider having the locking mechanism and
fitted to the fastener chain is located at a biased position where the
locking pawl projects at some of the fastener elements, or engaging
elements, that are not directly connected to a box pin and an insert pin
of the bottom end stop, particularly on the engaging elements at the side
of the fastener stringer where the box pin is fitted. With this
arrangement, the locking pawl is not directly related to the
fitting/removing operation of the insert pin into/out of the box so that
the box pin and the insert pin do not require any specific machining
process from the viewpoint of its relationship with the locking pawl.
In the conventional bottom end stop and the slider having the locking
mechanism as described above, when the insert pin of the bottom end stop
fitted to the fastener chain is inserted into the box, the insert pin is
exclusively used on the right side if it is designed so, whereas it is
exclusively used on the left side if it is designed as such. In other
words, a same insert pin cannot be used on both the right side and the
left side as viewed from the user. Thus, all slider components,
assembling/machining apparatus for producing sliders and slide fasteners
comprising such a slider have to be designed either for the right side
arrangement or for the left side arrangement. This gives rise to
cumbersome problems particularly in terms of production management and
inventory control.
Particularly, in the case of a slider having a semi-automatic locking
mechanism, the leaf spring of the slider having the locking pawl as part
thereof that is produced by bending is thicker than the leaf spring of a
slider having an automatic locking mechanism and the locking pawl is
directed substantially perpendicularly toward a guide groove for guiding
the engaging elements so that, if the locking pawl is located on the side
where the insert pin is inserted, it is difficult for the insert pin to
kick up the locking pawl and enter the box and hence the insert pin often
cannot successfully be inserted into the box. This provides a problem that
specifically hinders any attempt to use a same slider for both the right
side arrangement and the left side arrangement.
In view of the above identified problems, it is therefore a principal
object of the present invention to provide a bottom end stop of a slide
fastener whose insert pin is designed to show a simple configuration
adapted for escaping the locking pawl of the leaf spring of the slider
having a locking mechanism and for being smoothly inserted into the slider
and the box and to be usable for both the right side arrangement and the
left side arrangement for the ease of production management and inventory
control.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bottom end stop of a slide
fastener with which the insert pin can be easily and accurately brought
into releasable engagement with the box by specifying a manner in which
the insert pin easily escape the locking pawl if the locking pawl of the
leaf spring is arranged in a biased position.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bottom end stop of a slide
fastener with which the insert pin can be brought into releasable
engagement with the box in a specific manner so that it may be stably held
in the box by so designing it as to make the insert pin appropriately
escape the locking pawl.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an bottom end stop of a
slide fastener with which the insert pin can be accurately and quickly
inserted into the box at the left side or the right side, whichever
appropriate, by specifying the location where the locking pawl of the leaf
spring of the slider having a locking mechanism projects.
A further object of the invention is to provide a bottom end stop of a
slide fastener with which the insert pin can be inserted into the box
easily and accurately and avoid any unintended engagement with the locking
pawl during the inserting operation.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a slider having a
locking mechanism suited for the bottom end stop of a slide fastener and
having a mechanism for the insert pin of the bottom end stop to easily
escape the locking pawl of the leaf spring of the slider having the
locking mechanism.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a slider having a
semi-automatic type locking mechanism that uses a thick leaf spring and
most suited for the bottom end stop and having a mechanism for the insert
pin of the bottom end stop to easily escape the locking pawl of the leaf
spring of the slider having the locking mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, the principal object of the invention is
achieved by providing a separable bottom end stop and a slider having a
locking mechanism of a slide fastener in which the slider includes a leaf
spring showing a substantially U-shaped profile and having an end rigidly
secured to a front part, i.e. a guide post, of a slider body, and the
other end of the leaf spring having a locking pawl arranged near the
center thereof, the locking pawl being resiliently projecting into a guide
groove for engaging elements located in the slider body, The bottom end
stop includes a box, a box pin fitted in the box and an insert pin, to be
inserted into the box, having a beveled escape area produced by cutting an
edge of an upper outer surface of the insert pin facing the locking pawl
so as to allow the locking pawl to be retractably moved onto the insert
pin.
Preferably, the beveled escape area of the insert pin for escaping the
locking pawl is formed by cutting an edge of the insert pin from the
distal end thereof to a base of an abutting portion disposed at the top of
the insert pin and having a profile same as that of the engaging element
projecting outwardly.
And preferably, the box pin provided on the box has a ridge portion
projecting outwardly from a top portion, namely from an outer surface of
the top thereof and the abutting portion of the insert pin has a groove on
an outer lower surface thereof, the ridge portion and the groove being
adapted to abut and come into engagement with each other.
Preferably, the locking pawl of the locking mechanism is adapted to
resiliently and retractably project into a space between a top surface,
i.e. a top portion of the box pin and a bottom surface of the abutting
portion of the insert pin and to realize insertion operation for both the
right side arrangement and the left side arrangement.
Further preferably, the outer surface of the insert pin or the surface
facing the box pin is slightly bent and the escape area for the locking
pawl is formed by cutting an edge in the distal half thereof to produce a
first beveled surface area and cutting it in the other half thereof to
produce a second beveled surface area and a horizontal surface area.
Still preferably, the leaf spring of the locking mechanism has a recessed
portion arranged at an upper end of the locking pawl projecting near the
center of an extremity thereof and adapted to accommodate the axis of the
pull tab, and the base portion of the other extremity of the leaf spring
is secured to a guide post of the slider body so as to make the leaf
spring swingable by the motion of the axis of the pull tab accommodated in
the recessed portion of the leaf spring.
And still preferably, a U-shaped wall is arranged in front of the guide
post of the slider body to surround the front side of the guide post, the
upper end of the wall is projecting above the slider body to protect the
leaf spring, the base portion of the leaf spring is provided with lateral
notches to be inserted into and securely held in engagement with a
projecting portion arranged on the front surface of the guide post, the
locking pawl at the front end of the leaf spring is inserted into and
engaged with a pawl hole cut through the slider body, the axis of the pull
tab is put through the recessed portion of the leaf spring and provided
with a cam portion for actuating the leaf spring, and the opposite ends of
the axis are rotatably held by the bearing portions of the slider body
projecting upward from the slider body so as to rotate the cam portion of
the axis to make the locking pawl of the leaf spring project and retreat
by the swinging motion of the pull tab.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a bottom end stop and a slider
having a locking mechanism according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal cross sectional view of the slider
having the locking mechanism according to the invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a leaf spring of the slider
according to the invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic transversal cross sectional view of an insert pin of
the slider according to the invention as being inserted into a
corresponding box of left side arrangement, showing a principal portion
thereof.
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross sectional view of the insert pin of FIG. 4
taken along line A--A in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a schematic transversal cross sectional view of the insert pin of
the slider according to the invention when completely inserted into the
box of left side arrangement, showing a principal portion of thereof.
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross sectional view of the insert pin of FIG. 6
taken along line B--B in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a schematic transversal cross sectional view of the insert pin of
the slider according to the invention when completely inserted into the
box of right side arrangement, showing a principal portion thereof.
FIG. 9 is a schematic cross sectional view of the insert pin of FIG. 8,
taking along line C--C in FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Now, a bottom end stop and a slider having a locking mechanism of a slide
fastener according to the invention will be described in greater detail by
referring to the accompanying drawings that illustrate a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, the bottom end stop of a slide fastener according to
the invention comprises a box 1, a box pin 2 and an insert pin 3 that are
made of materials selected from polyamide, polyacetal, polypropylene,
polybutyleneterephthalate and other thermoplastic resin and integrally
formed by injection molding or extrusion molding.
The box pin 2 has a substantially prism-shaped profile and is molded
integrally to be fitted to an edge of a fastener stringer tape and
arranged adjacent to engaging elements E, or fastener. Additionally, the
box pin 2 has a ridge portion 4 having a triangular plan view and a
protruding cross sectional view as shown in FIG. 4 and located at the top
i.e. next to the engaging element E and along the outer edge of the box
pin 2, the top of the ridge portion 4 being flush with that of the box pin
2.
While the illustrated engaging elements E are integrally molded of
thermoplastic resin and arranged along the longitudinal edge of a fastener
stringer tape T, they may be replaced by metal engaging elements E formed
by die casting or thin plate working. If metal engaging elements are used,
the bottom end stop consisted of the box, the box pin and the insert pin
is preferably made of zinc alloy or aluminum alloy and formed by die
casting.
On the other hand, the insert pin 3 is longer than the box pin 2 and has a
substantially prism-like profile. It is slightly bent so that it may be
operated with ease for insertion. It is molded integrally to be fitted to
an edge of another fastener stringer tape T and arranged adjacent to the
engaging elements E. An abutting portion 5 is integrally formed at the top
of the insert pin 3 and adjacent to the neighboring engaging element E to
show a profile similar to that of the engaging element E but having a
lower half thereof cut off, the engaging/abutting portion 5 facing
outwardly like the engaging element E.
The insert pin 3 is cut along an edge of the distal half thereof to produce
a first beveled surface area 6 and cut along the edge of the other half
thereof to a base of the abutting portion 5 to produce a second beveled
surface area 7 at an inner portion thereof and a horizontal surface area 8
at an outer portion thereof. The first and second beveled surface areas 6,
7 and the horizontal surface area 8 form an escape area 10 for escaping
any possible engagement with the locking pawl 30 of the slider.
Additionally, the insert pin 3 has a groove 9 on the outer surface near
the top thereof, the groove 9 having a cross sectional view adapted to
abut and become engaged with the ridge portion 4 of the box pin 2.
The box 1 shows a substantially prism-like profile having a length equal to
about a half of that of the box pin 2 and has an accommodation hole for
receiving the box pin 2 on one side and an insertion hole 11 for receiving
the insert pin 3 on the other side. Additionally, the box 1 has along the
opposite lateral sides thereof slots 12 for respectively receiving
fastener stringer tapes T, the slots 12 being in communication with the
accommodation hole and the insertion hole 11 respectively. The box pin 2
is inserted into the accommodation hole and immovably secured there by an
appropriate means. Note that the box 1 and the box pin 2 may be formed
integrally with each other at the time of molding.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the slider having the locking mechanism
comprises a slider body 15, a pull tab 16 and a leaf spring 17, of which
the body 15 is typically made of aluminum alloy, zinc alloy or some other
metal and formed by die casting. The body 15 has an upper wing 18, a lower
wing 19 connected by a guide post 20, the front of the guide post 20 being
surrounded by a wall 21 projecting above the surface of the upper wing 18
to protect the leaf spring 17 to be arranged there. A gap 22 is formed
between the wall 21 and the guide post 20 to accommodate a base portion 28
of the leaf spring 17. In other words, the guide post 20 has at a front
lower portion thereof two projections 23 projecting into the gap 22 to
hold the base portion 28 of the leaf spring 17 therebetween.
The slider body 15 additionally has a pair of bearing portions 25 for
supporting an axis 32 of the pull tab 16, the bearing portions 25
extending between the rear end of the wall 21 and a rear opening 24 of the
slider body 15, and a pawl hole 26 for receiving the locking pawl 30
perpendicularly toward the guide groove 27 so as to operate is cut through
the slider body 15 between the bearing portions 25 and extends to the
guide groove 27 for guiding the engaging elements E.
Referring to FIG. 3, the leaf spring 17 generally shows a substantially
U-shaped profile and has lateral notches 29 arranged at the base portion
28 of an end thereof and a locking pawl 30 located near the center of the
other end and projecting substantially perpendicularly toward the guide
groove 27, a recessed portion 31 being arranged at the upper end of the
locking pawl 30 and adapted to accommodate the axis 32 of the pull tab 16
of the slider.
The pull tab 16 is made of an oblong plate and has at an end thereof an
opening 34 that allows the leaf spring 17 to pass therethrough and forms
the axis 32 for the pull tab 16. The axis 32 has a semi-cylindrical cam
portion 33 that shows its flat surface upward when the pull tab 16 is
turned toward the rear opening 24 of the slider body 15. However, the cam
portion 33 does not necessary have to show a semi-cylindrical profile and
may alternatively have a flat oval in cross section profile if it actuates
the leaf spring 17 when the pull tab is pulled to operate the slider.
The slider having the locking mechanism is assembled in a manner as
described below. Firstly, the axis 32 of the pull tab 16 is put on to be
supported by the bearing portions 25 projecting from the slider body 15.
Then the leaf spring 17 is made to abut the axis 32 from above and the
lateral notches 29 of the base portion 28 of the leaf spring 17 is brought
into engagement with and securely held by the respective projections 23
arranged at the front side of the guide post 20 so that the locking pawl
30 at the front end of the leaf spring 17 may always be resiliently
projecting into the guide groove 27. Thus, as the pull tab 16 is turned to
its standing position, the leaf spring 17 is lifted by the cam portion 33
of the axis 32 to move the locking pawl 30 out of the guide groove 27 so
that the slider maybe freely moved along the side fastener. When the pull
tab 16 is turned flat toward the rear opening 24, the locking pawl 30
projects into the guide groove 27 and becomes inserted between a pair of
engaging members E to semi-automatically stop the slider.
The lateral notches 29 provided in the base portion 28 of the leaf spring
17 may be replaced by a through hole in the base portion 28 and a single
projection may be provided at the front side of the guide post 20 that
comes into engagement with the through hole to securely hold the leaf
spring 17.
Now, a manner of operation of the bottom end stop and the slider having the
locking mechanism according to the invention will be described by
referring to FIGS. 4 and 5. As illustrated, the slider held in slidable
engagement with a pair of fastener stringers is made to slide along the
fastener stringer until it abuts the box 1 rigidly secured to the fastener
stringer tapes T and the insert pin 3 fitted to one of the fastener
stringer tapes T is inserted into the guide groove 27 of the slider and,
thereafter, into the insertion hole 11 of the box 1 as shown in FIGS. 6
and 7. During this operation, the locking pawl 30 is constantly projecting
into the guide groove 27 at the side of the insert pin 3 of the slider.
However, the locking pawl 30 is prevented from unintendedly locking
because of the provision of the first and second beveled surface areas 6,
7 and the horizontal surface area 8 of the escape area 10 so that the
insert pin 3 can smoothly move into the box 1. Additionally, the locking
pawl 30 is so arranged as to be located between the top surface of the box
pin 2 and the bottom surface of the abutting portion 5 of the insert pin 3
and the escape area 10 arranged at an edge of the insert pin 3 is made
longer than the box pin 2. Thus, once the insert pin 3 is inserted, the
fastener chain is closed by moving the pull tab 16 to a standing position
and pulling it upward.
The manner of operation as described above by referring to FIGS. 4 through
7 refers to a slide fastener typically fitted to the front edges of a
jacket, wherein the fastener stringer having the insert pin 3 is arranged
at the left side and the fastener stringer having the box pin 2 and the
box 1 is arranged at the right side of the user to show a so-called left
side arrangement or an arrangement where the insert pin 3 is inserted to a
left half portion of the box 1. To the contrary, in the case of a right
side arrangement of insert pin 3 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, where the
slider having the locking mechanism having the box 1, box pin 2 and the
insert pin 3 of the above-described profile and to be inserted through the
fastener chain is arranged at the opposite side, i.e. inside out, the
locking pawl 30 of the leaf spring 17 project onto the engaging element E
on the side of the box pin 2. Then, as the slider is made to abut the box
1 and halt, the locking pawl 30 is located outside the top of the box pin
2 as shown in FIG. 8, so that the insert pin 3 can easily be inserted into
the insertion hole 11 of the box 1 without touching the locking pawl 3 as
shown in FIG. 9. Thus, it will be appreciated that the insert pin 3 of
this embodiment can be used with the box 1 for both the right side
arrangement and the left side arrangement.
Advantages of the Invention
The bottom end stop and the slider with the locking mechanism according to
the invention and having a on figuration as described above provides the
following advantages.
According to the invention, as the leaf spring 17 showing a substantially
U-shaped profile has an end rigidly secured to a front part, or guide post
20, of the slider body 15, and the other end having the locking pawl 30
arranged near the center thereof, the locking pawl 30 being resiliently
projecting into the guide groove 27. The bottom end stop has the insert
pin 3 showing the beveled escape area 10 produced by cutting an edge of
the upper surface of the insert pin 3 facing the locking pawl 30 so as to
allow the locking pawl 30 to be retractably moved onto the insert pin 3.
Thus, the powerful leaf spring 17 can be arranged for the slider body 15
and, since the insert pin 3 is provided with the escape area 10 for
escaping the locking pawl 30 even when the locking pawl 30 is moved toward
and away from the insert pin 3, the insert pin 3 can be inserted into the
slider according to the invention with ease unlike any comparable
conventional sliders and hence can be used for both the right side
arrangement and the left side arrangement without changing its profile,
for the ease of production management and inventory control.
As the beveled escape area 10 of the insert pin 3 for escaping the locking
pawl 30 is formed by cutting an edge of the insert pin 3 from the distal
end thereof to the base of the abutting portion 5 of the insert pin 3
having a profile similar to half of that of the fastener element E and
projecting outwardly, the insert pin 3 can have a long escape area for
escaping the locking pawl 30 so that it can be easily and accurately
brought into releasable engagement with the box 1.
As the box 1 of the slide fastener includes the box pin 2 having the ridge
portion 4 projecting outwardly from the top portion thereof and the
abutting portion 5 of the insert pin 3 having the profile similar to that
of the fastener elements E has the groove 9 on the outer surface of the
top thereof, the ridge portion 4 and the groove 9 being adapted to abut
and come into engagement with each other, the insert pin 3 can be brought
into releasable engagement with the box pin 2 so that it may be easily
inserted into and held in position in the box 1 and appropriately escapes
the locking pawl 30.
As the locking pawl 30 of the locking mechanism is adapted to resiliently
and retractably project into the space between the top surface of the box
pin 2 and the bottom surface of the abutting portion 5 of the insert pin 3
and operate for both the right side arrangement and the left side
arrangement, then the insert pin 3 can be accurately and quickly inserted
into the box 1 at the left side or the right side, whichever appropriate,
with a simple switching operation.
As the outer surface of the insert pin 3 or the surface facing the box pin
2 is slightly bent and the escape area 10 of the locking pawl 30 is formed
by cutting the edge in the distal half thereof to produce the first
beveled surface area 6 and cutting it in the other half thereof to produce
the second beveled surface area 7 and the horizontal surface area 8, the
insert pin 3 can be inserted into the box 1 easily and accurately and
avoid any unintended engagement with the locking pawl 30 during the
inserting operation.
As the leaf spring 17 has the recessed portion 31 arranged at the upper end
of the locking pawl 30 projecting near the center of an extremity thereof
and adapted to accommodate the axis 32 of the pull tab 16 of the slider,
with the base portion 28 in the other extremity of the leaf spring 17
being secured to the guide post 20 of the slider body 15 so as to make the
leaf spring 17 swingable by the motion of the axis 32 of the pull tab 16
accommodated in the recessed portion 31 of the leaf spring 17, the insert
pin 3 can be inserted with ease into the box 1 and such a slider with the
locking mechanism is particularly suited for use with the bottom end stop
adapted to both the left side arrangement and the right side arrangement.
Finally, as the U-shaped wall 21 is arranged in front of the guide post 20
of the slider body 15 to surround the front side of the guide post 20 and
the upper end of the wall 21 is projecting above the slider body 15, the
base portion 28 of the leaf spring 17 being provided with lateral notches
29 to be inserted into and securely held in engagement with the projecting
portions 23 arranged on the front surface of the guide post 20, the
locking pawl 30 at the front end of the leaf spring 17 being inserted into
and engaged with the pawl hole 26 cut through the slider body 15, the axis
32 of the pull tab 16 being put through the recessed portion 31 of the
leaf spring 17 and provided with the cam portion 33 for actuating the leaf
spring 17, the opposite ends of the axis 32 being rotatably held by the
bearing portions 25 of the slider body 15 projecting upward from the
slider body 15 so as to make the locking pawl 30 of the leaf spring 17
project and retreat by the swinging motion of the pull tab 16, the leaf
spring can be protected and avoided from any unintended disengagement. And
the leaf spring 17 can be easily secured even if it has a great thickness.
Additionally, the slider can be moved with ease by pulling the pull tab to
a standing position so that the above arrangement is particularly suited
for a slider having a semi-automatic type locking mechanism to be used
with the bottom end stop adapted to both the left side arrangement and the
right side arrangement for the insert pin 3.
Top